Background
We have observed over the years that the majority of Batswana have a tendency of identifying places such as Sun City & Cape Town (RSA) as well as Walvis Bay & Swakopmund (Namibia) as their Tourism Holiday Destinations of Choice over local destinations such as the Okavango Delta and Chobe. They decry lack of entertainment as the cause and further, that they miss out on big events such as
the Booster Bash and the Annual Back 2 Skul Party in Gaborone. We have therefore identified Maun as a place we can use to promote and attract patrons to over the festive period. It is also our belief that for people to appreciate and understand the need to conserve our wildlife, vegetation and environment at large, they need to be taken out there to personally experience nature’s beauty. It is against this backdrop that we have decided to organize the “My Maun Experience” events with the view to:
1. Stimulate interest in local tourism,
2. Promote Maun as a holiday destination of choice to international and national fun lovers through Sport and entertainment.
3. Economically boost Maun and Botswana by encouraging people to holiday and spend money within our boarders.
4. Market Maun as not only a holiday destination but also a place of investment opportunities.
5. To help diversify our economy by using entertainment, cultural and sport tourism as alternatives to reduce reliance on diamonds, beef and wildlife tourism
6. Use Maun’s beauty and its vibrancy during festive season to promote and market Botswana to the world.
7. To use events to teach people about the natural beauty of our country and the importance of conserving our environment.
8. Inspire other Batswana to host similar events around the country to reduce the number of people leaving the country during the holidays. Strategies
We woo visitors, especially the youth, to Maun through a series of our events and to take advantage of coincidental complimentary events that are organized by other promoters. We then set aside a day for tourism activities such as Boat Cruising, Horse back safaris, game drives, mokoro trips, helicopter rides and scenic flights for the visitors, once they are in Maun. Bellow is details of past successful events;
DECEMBER 2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1. 26th December 2012 - Be Mobile Premier League Game between Gaborone
United (GU) and Township Rollers) at the Maun Stadium
2. 26th December 2012 - GU vs. Township Rollers After Party at Club Trekkers by
DOC Entertainment & 63 Entertainment
3. 27th December 2012 - Be Mobile Premier League Game between Mochudi Center . Chiefs and BDF XI at Maun Stadium.
4. 28th December 2012 - Performance by THEBE (RSA) at Club Trekkers by DOC
Entertainment & 63 Entertainment
5. 29th December 2012 - Performance by Black Motion (RSA) at Club Trekkers by
DOC Entertainment & 63 Entertainment
6. 30th December 2012 - Tourism Day set aside for game viewing, Mokoro Trips,
Boat Cruises and Scenic Flights by DOC Entertainment &
63 Entertainment
In support of the above events, we had partnered with Air Botswana (flights) and Croc Camp (accommodation and boat cruises)
EASTER 2013 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1. 29th March 2013 - Hunter’s Easter full moon Party at Croc Camp by Fresh
Fresh Exclusive Entertainment
2. 30th March 2013 - The Mascom National Derby at Shashe Race tracks by
Mascom and Ngami Horse Races
3. 30th March 2013 - The Derby Afterparty at Fresh Exclusive Club…..Naak
Musiq (Mj from Generations) by DOC Entertainment &
63 Entertainment
4. 31st March 2013 - Woza Easter Maun edition at Shashe Race Tracks
By Yarona FM
5. 1st April 2013 - Tourism Appreciation day by DOC
Entertainment & 63 Entertainment
DECEMBER 2013- MY MAUN EXPERIENCE CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1. The arrival party- 27th December 2013
This was a ‘meet and greet’ session where we were launching the “MY MAUN EXPERIENCE WEEK”, distributing My Maun Experience magazine and unveiling the new T-Shirt designs. It was also used as an autograph and photo session.
2. The My Maun Experience fashion show- 28th December 2013
Was held at Fresh Exclusive night club where local top models Neo Motlaleng, Thabang Mmolotsi, Michelle Chikazunga, Boitumelo Kanedi, Kaone Monamodi, Christyan Madikwe and Ritah George showcased designs by two of our local designers, Lesedi Matlapeng and Aobakwe Molosiwa
3. The My Maun Experience breakfast run- 29th December 2013
97 people registered for the race. These ranged from just the ordinary Maun locals, socialites, celebrities, up and coming semi-professional athletes, well known Maun long distance legends to national team members; the likes of Tiroyaone Masake and Kealeboga Ndiane who have both represented Botswana at in international competitions, Letsatsi “The sun” Pakiso who is a well-known middle/long distance runner from the 90’s, Kopo tlholego and Ikanyeng Semagamaga who together with Tiroyaone and Kealeboga are members of Maun BDF runners club. Local celebrity Steez also took part in the race and Amantle Montsho was there to give support as our patron and marshal. 43 people ran the race, 31 of which managed to finish. Prizes for the race were as follows; Kealeboga Ndiane, Ikanyeng Semagamaga and Kopo Tholego all won P500.00 each as the men’s, women’s and junior winners respectively. The men’s runner up won a night at Maun lodge and the women and junior runner ups each won a night at Laphroiag chalets. The prize giving ceremony which was held over breakfast at Maun lodge was attended among others by Hon councilor Galaletsang Mhapha, Hon councilor Moetetsi Mogalakwe and Kgosi Oateng Setlhodi of Chanoga.
4. Camp- Crocodile cam – 30th December 2013
Was cancelled due to bad weather
5. New year’s eve summer splash – 31st December 2013
This was a joint effort between us and Fresh exclusive which was supposed to start at 15:00 hours But was delayed due to rain. It rained heavily all afternoon going into the evening and this affected the final preparations at Sakaomba farm. It was only after 22:00 hours when the rain subsided that a sizable number of people started coming in. The event was however successful because after the rain stopped and everything went back to normal, the show went on without any hiccups.
6. TOURISM APPRECIATION DAY- 01 January 2014
Weather conditions were not favorable for most activities; this led to us having fewer boat cruises than planned for. We did however realize substantial growth as compared to the year before, in the number of people that were aware of and particularly wanted to be part of our boat cruises. Well known South African personalities Boity Thulo of SABC 1’s music program “Live” and Thomas Mlambo of SABC 1’s sport programs “Soccer zone” which airs on Mondays and sports at 10 which airs on Wednesdays were among the people that took part in the tourism appreciation day boat cruises. December 2014
DECEMBER 2014- MY MAUN EXPERIENCE CALENDAR OF EVENTS - SPONSORED BY BOFINET
1. FRIDAY 26th December 2014 – Road trip
We kick started the festivities with a road trip of branded cars driving in a convoy from Gaborone via Francistown to makgadikgadi pans where we made a lunch/braai stop before making our way to Planet Baobab in Gweta for another entertainment stop after which we proceeded to our destination, MAUN.
2. The arrival party- 27th December 2014
This was a ‘meet and greet’ session where we were launching the “MY MAUN EXPERIENCE WEEK”, distributing My Maun Experience magazine and unveiling the new BOFINET-T-Shirt designs. It was also used as an autograph and photo session.
3. SUNDAY 28th December 2014 – Breakfast run( cross country mini marathon)
A 12 km Breakfast run which was on its second year, was run on the same route as last year starting from Maun lodge along the Thamalakane River to Tsanakona and back (6km to and 6km from)
4. Tuesday 30th December 2014- Cycling
This was a 30 km mountain bike race from Maun to Samedupe and back.
5. Wednesday 31st December 2014- New year’s eve celebrations
We partnered with Maun local promoters(Fresh Exclusive) to once again host one of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties in the country……..Fireworks and music performances.
6. Thursday 1st January 2014 – Tourism appreciation day
Boat cruises, mokoro trips, scenic flights followed by a “Safari” themed party where the dress code was khaki clothes normally used by safari companies as their uniform. Plan for December 2015- Watch this space....... BIGGER, BETTER
